The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-02-03
THREE SENATOR'S.
Fen Portraits Of Senators blackburn, In.
gals md Rlldl. berger.

,a THREE SENATOR'S.
Pen Portraits Of SENATOR blackburn, In.
gals md l~tiddl.berger.
specta! Correspondence Of The Iaellfgenee.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Feb. Lone otthe
moat interesting characters in tho United
States Senate is "Joe" Blackburn, OF
Kentucky. lIe Is q tall, erect, dis.in.
guished looking man, with a massive
head, partly bald. His iacc Is not at all
handsome, but 1t wears an intellectual
expression and heavy military mustachee,
which combine to make 1t attractive, Hia
hAir, once brown, 10 now aimoat g.ay,
lie possesses a deep bass voice, tho low
tones being rich and muaical. II Ia only
when he raises 1t above u certain key
that Ito sound Ia harsh. Senator Black.
burn iB an orator OF tho fiery Southern
type. Some splendid specimens Of i'm.
FASHIONED eloquence have fallen from his
lips during the fifteen years he has been
In Congress, but now that he Is only
serving bis apprenticeship In the Senate,
hin voice is seldom heard in that body,
cave when he ariaes to offer a resolution
or q bill. In debate he Is quick and
elective, though often intemperate Ia
bis remarke, to q degree that pre-.
judices his own cause. He il
an intense partisan, a stalwart
Of the Btalwarts among Kentucky Demo.
Gratis, and being OF a restless, passionate
temperament, it is not ut all eurprising
that his political speeches are bitter from
every, point Of view. His famous mid.
night speech in the House Of Representa-.
tives in 1877, pending the confirmation OF
the Electoral Commission, has been bro.
nounccd one Of the finest examples OF
fiery invective and impulsive oratory ever
delivered in Congreag. So extreme was
its sentiment and revolutionary its ten
dercy that u large portion Of 1t was after
wards stricken from the record by order of
the House, and the public was not per-
mitted to read the speech in the shape
BLACKBURN had created it. Perhaps It Is
we'll they did not, for feeling was high
then, and such u%tteinnces in the halls of
Congress would not have helped a pacific
settlement of the difficulties, SO far as the
public mind waa concerned.
senator Blackburn is a remarkable man
Ia another respect. He possesses a won
derlul faculty for imbibing knowledge
itom conversation. He seldom reado a
book OF any nature, and yet no man ia
the Senate haH on hand. for instant use, a
larger fund Of general knowledge than be.
BE reads newspapers very liltls; in fact, |
weeks 60 by without his looking at one.
Yet no man In the Senate 10 more thor
oughly posted on the current events Of
the day, or more conversant with the DO.
litical topics Of the times. lie learns it
all by listening to the diacussions BY
others. II be is riding to the Capitol in
d etreet car, be is surI to meet pomo one
ho knows who has read the morning Do.
pers, and before the Capitol is reached the
Senator is as well acquainted with what
has t%ranspired in the world the day pre-
| yious IS his friend. He does not know all
the details, but he knows what has hap.
pened; the details he gathers in conyer-
~sations from time to time with others
upon the subject. He is a splendid con-
versationalist, and has a peculiar talent
for making Others talk. Being Quick TO
comprehend, it does not take him long to
familiarizo himself with a subject YOU
may be talking Of, which be may never
have heard mentioned before, At tho
Capital, among his brother Senator'S, he
is very popular, and every day
he goes among them, first holding
a few minutes conversation with this one
he knows reads tho Tribune regularly. or
that one who he feels sure has the editor.
isls Of the World fresh in his mind, and 60
on, until he has in hiu own mind not only
1.-THE "meat" Of all tina great Journals Of
political belief, but the ~obaesvances con.
corning every subject Of the distinguished
lgent!elnen from whom he has imbibsd |
the news. Then he is ready to form his
own opinions and to entertain his friends
at lunch or dinner with his delightful |
conversation upon the topics OF tho day. |
a stranger, not being aware Of his habits,
might be led to believe, from bis CONVEX
sation, that the Senator YVES a great news
paper reader. This novel and peculiar
method OF Excepting posted' is not the
outgrowth Of lpziness. 1t is a matter Of
preference. He delights to talk himself,
and ia fond Of exercising his faculty for
drawing out OF people what they have
read, and their opinions, without making
himgelf disS2tetsbie. In this line no
possepH"s o tal'nt that would make him a
successful reporter.
Like most kentuckians, he is an au-
thority in horse matters, is tho owner Of
come OF the best racing stock in the coun-
try, and lives a free and easy sporting life
| when not attending to his legislative
duties. He can give you the pedigree OF
every prominent horse in the country,
With bis record on the track.
I have mentioned Senator B%lackburn's
aocial qualities. Though q bitter partisan
on the floor OF Congress, be numbers
among his most intimate associates many
Of thu leading Republicans OF both the
Senate and the House. He is genial and
generous, quick to resent an insult, but rs
ready to forgive. His rooms at the National
Hotel arc u !avorite resort for many OF
the convivial spirits Of Washington, where
they are nightly entertained by the witty
and intelligent conversation OF this re-
markable kentuckian. He and Senator
keIna are warm friends. They were
"cronies" in the House aud are COM
p%anions in the Senate. They hunt and
fish together, and are in perfect sympathy
with one another's political Echemes.
SENATOR INGALLS,,
OF tho Republican >side of the Senate
Chamber, is another good subject to study,
a1d has come remarkable traits OF charac-
ter. He is n OF the few men in Congress
of whom it can be eaid that "they never
open their mouths but thsttk tie say some.
thing" It is the general opinion that he
ia without a peer ss a debater. Even his
enemies concsde TINT he is a statesman.
MI. Ingalls,, however, lacks one of the es.
sential clements to make him popular
with the people. His nature is cold and
cynical. There is no warmth about him,
and whatever magnetiem he possesses is |
only felt while he is speaking. When you
look at him es be ats in his chair in the
Sanata non ora not i'm nxanaad with IN ;daa